Welcome to Episode 99 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we continue our triptych of shows on the work of Garth Nix and Sean Williams, specifically their book (from the series of the same name) Troubletwisters. As we had expected, Garth and Sean have a lot of interesting things to say about the state of the middle grade and young adult markets, what young people can and can’t handle in terms of difficult subject matter, and who really is the king of speculative fiction in Australia (minor spoiler: this question really isn’t resolved during the interview). It all adds up to an interesting and fun conversation, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did. If so, remember to check back next week for our final show of the triptych, focusing on some of the writing techniques used in Troubletwisters. Until then, thanks as always for listening to the show, and please continue to spread the word!

Additional Note: Nominations for the 2014 Hugo Awards are only open until this Monday at 11:59 p.m. PDT, and Speculate is eligible to be nominated in the Best Fancast category. If you’re a voting member of either last year’s, this year’s or next year’s Worldcon, you’re eligible to make Hugo nominations, and we’d be honored if you would nominate us for Best Fancast. Please go here for more details, spread the word, and thanks so much as always for your support!

Welcome to Episode 98 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we begin a new triptych of shows on the work of Garth Nix and Sean Williams, two of the most famous speculative fiction authors in Australia and both veterans of the middle grade and young adult markets, focusing on their book Troubletwisters–the first book in an SFF series with the same name. Featuring an unusual combination of elements from authors like P.L. Travers and Stephen King, the novel gives us a chance to look not just at what makes a book work for its readers but also who its readers really are…and whether that’s changed over the years, especially in the middle grade market. If you enjoy the discussion, don’t forget to check back next week when we’ll interview Garth and Sean about both this book and the series as a whole. Until then, thanks as always for listening, and please continue to spread the word about the show!

Additional Note: Nominations for the 2014 Hugo Awards are only open for another ten days, and Speculate is eligible to be nominated in the Best Fancast category. If you’re a voting member of either last year’s, this year’s or next year’s Worldcon, you’re eligible to make Hugo nominations, and we’d be honored if you would nominate us for Best Fancast. Please go here for more details, spread the word, and thanks so much as always for your support!

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